Development workshops in full swing in Budapest, Hungary
The highly anticipated World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest, Hungary gets underway today, as some of the world’s best swimmers look to close 2024 out with glory. In the lead-up to the competition, World Aquatics has been hosting a series of impactful development workshops aimed at empowering athletes, coaches and support staff. These sessions have been designed to facilitate growth, connection and knowledge sharing, ensuring participants are equipped for success both in and out of the pool.
Stipendium Hungaricum Workshop: Building Understanding and Empathy
On 7 December, Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders gathered for an engaging workshop aimed to further enrich the collaboration between athletes and support staff.
Participants reflected on personal and shared experiences across themes including overcoming challenges, identifying positives, leveraging opportunities and offering advice. These shared reflections created a collaborative environment where athletes could generate insights to improve their pursuits of education and sport.
The development workshops aim to empower athletes, coaches and support staff for success both in and out of the pool (Istvan Derencsenyi/World Aquatics)
Aqua Scholarship Holders Session: Lessons in Transition
On 8 December, Cameron van der Burgh, the Olympic champion from South Africa who set a world record in the 100m breaststroke at London 2012, shared his journey from elite swimmer to hedge fund manager.
London 2012 Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh shared insights on athlete career transitions (Marton Csanadi/World Aquatics)
Cameron offered a unique perspective on transitioning from high-performance sport to the financial sector, discussing the skills, challenges and strategies that shaped his career.
Cameron’s story emphasised the importance of intentional planning and adaptability, as he encouraged athletes to begin preparing early for life after swimming. Participants were also invited to reflect on their own aspirations and career plans, sparking valuable discussions about navigating transitions.
Addressing Taboo Topics: The Menstrual Cycle in Sport
Workshops held on 8 and 9 December for athletes and coaches turned the spotlight on an often-overlooked subject in sport: the menstrual cycle. Olympians, Olympic champions and world-record holders Caroline Jouisse, Pernille Blume and Ranomi Kromowidjojo, along with esteemed sport scientist Marine Dupuit, led these sessions, encouraging open conversations about the topic. Attendees were able to hear firsthand about the impact of the menstrual cycle on performance and discuss ways to integrate this knowledge into training and preparation.
Olympians and world-record holding athletes shared their experiences and insights during ‘The Menstrual Cycle: Breaking The Taboo’ seminar (Marton Csanadi/World Aquatics)
Caroline Jouisse emphasised the importance of these conversations and coaches creating a supportive environment for their athletes. She stated: “The menstrual cycle is a very tricky subject. It can be hard to discuss it as an athlete with our coaches but it is very, very important. It can help to make major changes to preparation. The goal of those workshops is to open up on the subject and make everyone - athletes, coaches and staff - aware that we need to take menstrual cycle in consideration”.
“Breaking the taboo around the menstrual cycle is about more than just conversation; it’s about empowerment,” said Marine Dupuit, who is working on a research programme entitled ‘Empowher’. “It’s about fostering a environment where athletes feel supported, informed, and unashamed—because understanding their bodies is key to unlocking their full potential, in and out of the water.”
With over 50 coaches in attendance on Monday, the discussions marked a pivotal step in advancing athlete-centred coaching practices.
Attendees were able to hear ways to integrate menstrual cycle knowledge into training and preparation (Marton Csanadi/World Aquatics)
Innovative Coaching Insights
Renowned swimming analyst Russell Mark joined esteemed coach and Olympian James Gibson for an informal discussion with National Federation coaches on 8 December.
Coaches explored techniques for refining starts, turns and underwater phases, with a focus on how biomechanical analysis can enhance individual performance.
Speaking about the various workshops, James Gibson commented “These workshops play a pivotal role in empowering the global aquatics community. By encouraging collaboration and sharing knowledge and best practice, we are equipping athletes, coaches and stakeholders with the tools they need to feel confident in their respective sports.
“The benefits ripple far beyond individual growth: they raise the standards of competition, strengthen international networks, and enrich the global aquatics ecosystem for years to come.”
Development workshops will be held throughout the Championships, as World Aquatics aims to empower its global community (Istvan Derencsenyi/World Aquatics)
These workshops, addressing critical performance factors, personal growth and career transitions are a demonstration of World Aquatics’ work in empowering its global community. Development workshops will continue throughout the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) this week. The workshops today include:
Another engaging workshop focused on understanding the impact of the menstrual cycle on athlete training and competition. This session will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss how athletes can manage these challenges effectively and how coaches can offer the best support to their teams.
Representatives from World Aquatics will present an initial overview of the redeveloped coaches certification pathway, followed by an open discussion to gather feedback from the coaching community. Together, World Aquatics aims to collaboratively shape development programmes that support both athletes and coaches at every stage.
Stay tuned to hear more!